History Literature / SnowWhite

Note that this specifically refers to the Brothers Grimm version and adaptations thereof, rather than any of the other fairytales of Aarne-Thompson type #709, "Snow White" (such as "Literature/GoldTreeAndSilverTree," in which the Snow White character is married off by her father to get her away from her insane mother, or the memorable version in which Snow White stays with FORTY DRAGONS.)

"Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" is one of the best known of [[Creator/TheBrothersGrimm the Grimms']] stories, although it existed in numerous countries before being compiled into their ''Children's and Household Tales''. It was one of the early victims of their {{bowdleris|e}}ing edits; they changed the antagonist from Snow White's biological mother to a WickedStepmother.

* EvilIsPetty / DisproportionateRetribution: The Queen wants to get rid of Snow White for one simple reason. She is more beautiful than her.

** "Snow, Glass, Apples", by Creator/NeilGaiman, is also told from the perspective of the Queen, who came to realize that Snow White's father died because [[spoiler:the little girl was sucking his blood. The queen eventually succeeds in poisoning Snow White with the apple, but the prince who finds her is explicitly stated to be a necrophiliac who wants her ''because'' she's dead. The two marry and shut the stepmother up in an oven. The queen is narrating the story while being ''roasted alive''.]]

Because of Snow White's [[RavenHairIvorySkin unusual appearance]] and the disturbing psychological issues in the story, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" is frequently subject to {{Grimmification}} or DarkerAndEdgier treatment. One such example is a [[Film/SnowWhiteATaleofTerror 1997 horror version]] with Creator/SigourneyWeaver as the queen. There's also a 2001 version subtitled [[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0255605/ Fairest of Them All]] with Miranda Richardson as the queen and Creator/KristinKreuk as Snow White, and [[RainbowMotif rainbow dwarves]], named after the days of the week. Finally, let's not forget Creator/NeilGaiman's short story "[[https://web.archive.org/web/20130616104947/http://thedreaming.holycow.com/1999/10/10/snow-glass-apples/ Snow, Glass, Apples]]", where we have a perspective flip that takes some of the more eerie parts of the story, and makes them much much worse.

* ExtremelyDustyHome: The dwarves' home before Snow cleans it up is so dusty they are shocked when they come home and don't see it.

* FairestOfThemAll: The queen used to be the fairest in the land, and her jealousy over it when Snow White becomes the new fairest and desire to get rid of the competition is her motivation for killing her off.

* GreenEyedMonster: Envy of Snow White spurs the Queen on.

In recent years, more ActionGirl-style portrayals of Snow White have come to the fore. ''Sword and Sorceress XXVII'''s introduction contrasted Snow White's portrayal in the Grimm and Disney versions with that of modern versions like ''Film/SnowWhiteAndTheHuntsman'', ''Film/MirrorMirror'', and ''Series/OnceUponATime''.

In recent years, more ActionGirl-style portrayals of Snow White have come to the fore. ''Sword and Sorceress XXVII'''s introduction contrasted Snow White's portrayal in the Grimm and Disney versions with that of modern versions like ''Film/SnowWhiteAndTheHuntsman'', ''Film/MirrorMirror'', and ''Series/OnceUponATime''. Anthology editor Creator/ElizabethWaters says:
-> I suspect that most modern viewers find it easier to identify with a Snow White who fights back. Spending years asleep in a glass coffin waiting to be awakened by "TrueLovesKiss" is hopefully not something that girls today aspire to. We can fight for what we want, and we have a good chance of getting it.

* BringingBackProof: The original Grimm Brothers version depicts the evil queen demanding that the huntsman bring her Snow White's heart. Which the queen then proceeds to ''eat''. (Except that the huntsman actually substituted a pig's heart and let Snow White go.)

* DecompositeCharacter: In the first Grimm edition, Snow White's birth mother who wishes for her to have all the traits she is known for (white skin, black hair and red lips) and wicked stepmother were one in the same. When the Grimm brothers decided that the idea of a mom attempting to murder her child was too disturbing, they split the character into these two personas.

* WorldsMostBeautifulWoman: The queen, and then Snow White.

* WickedStepmother: Was added in the Brothers Grimm version. In first editions, it was averted since the queen in those versions was actually Snow White's mother.

* VainSorceress: The queen.

* RuleOfThree: The queen makes three assassination attempts in person before they pay off:

* PrincessProtagonist: Take a guess.

* PrinceCharming: The prince who Snow marries.

** "Snow, Glass, Apples", by Creator/NeilGaiman, is also told from the perspective of the Queen, who came to realize that Snow White's father died because [[spoiler:the little girl was sucking his blood (and [[LampshadedDoubleEntendre other]] [[{{Squick}} parts]] [[ParentalIncest of]] him). The queen eventually succeeds in poisoning Snow White with the apple, but the prince who finds her is explicitly stated to be a necrophiliac who wants her ''because'' she's dead. The two marry and shut the stepmother up in an oven. The queen is narrating the story while being ''roasted alive''.]]

* In the 2001 television film, the queen (played by Miranda Richardson) is named Elspeth, while some material relating to the Disney version give her the name Grimhilde.

* LoveAtFirstSight: If only she weren't comatose at the time.

* HappilyEverAfter

* GoodPrincessEvilQueen: In the fairy tale and all adaptations the kind and virtuous princess Snow White is pitted against her WickedStepmother, the evil queen.

* GodSaveUsFromTheQueen

* GreenEyedMonster: Spurs the Queen on.

* FauxDeath: Snow White. She got better.

* FairestOfThemAll: Snow White.

* FairyTale

* EvilMatriarch: The queen.